I want to RMA my GTX 970 due to one of the fans making a loud flutter. The card is about 17 months old. It's my understanding that EVGA replace with a re certified product, I'm concerned about what the origin of the replacement might be. If the replacement card happened to have more usage on the parts then I don't feel that would reflect the current value of my card. I've expressed my concern with EVGA and their reply regarding a re certified product is that "it could mean that the product was an open-box item that was returned, damaged packaging. It could also have minor scratches."

Am I within my rights to know exactly what the origin of my replacement will be?

Your options are go with what EVGA does for their RMA or go and deal with the retailer you purchased the card off of - I'm not 100% on what the retailer will offer you, but it'd have to be equivalent or better, be it a refund or a card of similar performance, or they may send it to EVGA themselves. Just read up on your CGA rights, although I'm not sure if EVGA would then have anything to do with it - their cards enter NZ through a supplier.

how pray chance are you gonna know how much usage there is on the card? how is EVGA?

I would hope that EVGA would replace with some of comparable use, I would not be happy with a replacement that once also had a fan issue but also had had significant more use on the card. How is EVGA? I don't know, that's what I'm asking...

toejam316: Your options are go with what EVGA does for their RMA or go and deal with the retailer you purchased the card off of - I'm not 100% on what the retailer will offer you, but it'd have to be equivalent or better, be it a refund or a card of similar performance, or they may send it to EVGA themselves. Just read up on your CGA rights, although I'm not sure if EVGA would then have anything to do with it - their cards enter NZ through a supplier.

I spoke to the original retailer and he advised that manufacture warranty has to be sought after the first 12 months...

I'm having trouble getting a cross ship RMA organised and am working with EVGA to at least get that sorted first. I think it's only fair to enquire as to what the replacement will be otherwise I may get something that doesn't reflect the current value of my card.

I thought I would take a chance with RMA in that I might get an upgrade to something as it seems quite common with EVGA.

Well most cards have probably been registered and invoices would show purchase dates. I see what you mean though, I think your referring to how much actual use a card has had with any given person which I agree would be impossible to tell. Hmm oh well, I'm just a bit nervous about it and don't really like the idea of getting someone else's old card back in return. On the other hand maybe most of their RMA's are open box returns or step up exchanges.

If someone wants to offer me a decent price for it I might consider it instead, it does have the fan issue but it is somewhat only minor and worst case is that it might get worse or fail I suppose...

I thought I would take a chance with RMA in that I might get an upgrade to something as it seems quite common with EVGA.

Well most cards have probably been registered and invoices would show purchase dates. I see what you mean though, I think your referring to how much actual use a card has had with any given person which I agree would be impossible to tell. Hmm oh well, I'm just a bit nervous about it and don't really like the idea of getting someone else's old card back in return. On the other hand maybe most of their RMA's are open box returns or step up exchanges.

If someone wants to offer me a decent price for it I might consider it instead, it does have the fan issue but it is somewhat only minor and worst case is that it might get worse or fail I suppose...

Realistically you're never getting a new card from evga. The card they will send you is gonna have been QA'd and verified, and EVGA especially after the ACX 3.0 issues can't afford any bad media.

Do you think I don't really have anything to worry about then? Would you be happy in this situation? I've never had to deal with a re certified RMA replacement, Seasonic replaced my X-660 with a brand new unit.

I just don't think I can be without a card for the standard RMA. I've had a closer look at my purchase date which in fact was July 29 2016 which makes the card just on 14 months old. I've emailed the retailer again to ask if he could consider a replacement within the 1 year store warranty considering it's relatively just out of that time frame. If not would anyone be interested in buying it? IMO it is in pristine condition as is the way I keep the rest of my PC.

toejam316: Pristine condition and RMA do not go together in the same sentence, sorry friend. Why not just buy a new card and send the 970 off for RMA anyway, and then sell the card you get back? The only other thing is to get onto the retailer about Consumer Guarantees Act rights, which you should have read about after I previously mentioned to you :P

The 1070 at $750 would dip into a significant amount of my savings, I would have to be sure I'd get something reasonable back on the replacement card. Hmm I'll think about it.

You're really thinking about this the wrong way. Something reasonable is any card that's a 970 or greater, or a 1060 or greater, that isn't broken. Also, they do offer advanced RMA, where you essentially buy the replacement card from EVGA and then they refund the cost once they receive your old card.

You're going to be without a gpu for a little bit no matter how you swing it at this point, so I'd either go to the retailer and get a solution though the cga, or use evgas advanced RMA and be happy with what comes back.